Prunus persica Flos (peach blossom), commonly referred to as Dohwa, is the flower of the peach tree and has traditionally been used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. In the classical Korean medical text Goryeodogyeong, the medicinal properties of D...
Prunus persica Flos (peach blossom), commonly referred to as Dohwa, is the flower of the peach tree and has traditionally been used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. In the classical Korean medical text Goryeodogyeong, the medicinal properties of Dohwa are described as having a bitter taste, neutral nature, and no toxicity, with effects including the alleviation of urinary disorders, facilitation of urination and defecation, elimination of parasites, removal of pathogenic factors, and improvement of facial complexion. Historically, Dohwa was used in the treatment of intestinal disorders and skin-related conditions such as eruptions. As a medicinal resource traditionally utilized for beauty and skin care, Dohwa has been the subject of various studies investigating its bioactive components and anti-inflammatory effects. However, studies on Dohwa fermented using microorganisms have not yet been reported. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant effects of non-fermented and fermented Dohwa and to evaluate the potential applicability of fermented Dohwa as a novel functional material. Dried Dohwa and Dohwa fermented with rice nuruk, Aspergillus oryzae, and Aspergillus kawachii were extracted using hot water. The contents of bioactive compounds in the extracts were analyzed, and their antioxidant, anti-wrinkle, and whitening activities were evaluated.
1. The extraction yield was highest in the dried Prunus persica Flos extract (PPE) at 62%, followed by the rice nuruk–fermented extract (PRNE) at 32.25%. In contrast, the extracts fermented with Aspergillus oryzae (PAOE) and Aspergillus kawachii (PAIE) showed relatively low yields of 6.3% and 5.9%, respectively.
2. The contents of soluble protein and reducing sugar in the dried and fermented Prunus persica Flos extracts were determined. The highest soluble protein content was observed in PPE, with a value of 91.50 mg/g, whereas the highest reducing sugar content was detected in the rice nuruk–fermented extract (PRNE), at 422.42 mg/g.
3. To evaluate the potential of dried and fermented Prunus persica Flos extracts as functional bioactive materials, the contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids were determined. The highest total polyphenol content was observed in PPE, with a value of 62.21 mg/g, whereas the highest flavonoid content was found in the Aspergillus kawachii–fermented extract (PAIE), at 21.32 mg/g.
4. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the dried and fermented Prunus persica Flos extracts was evaluated using the DPPH discoloration assay. At a concentration of 2,000 μg/mL, PPE exhibited the highest electron-donating ability, with a scavenging activity of 86.72%, while PAIE showed a comparable activity of 81.79%.
5. The ABTS radical scavenging activity of the dried and fermented Prunus persica Flos extracts was measured at concentrations ranging from 125 to 2,000 μg/mL. At 2,000 μg/mL, all extracts exhibited ABTS radical scavenging activities exceeding 90%.
6. The SOD-like activity of the dried and fermented Prunus persica Flos extracts was evaluated using the pyrogallol autoxidation method, which reflects antioxidant activity associated with various physiological mechanisms. At a concentration of 2,000 μg/mL, the rice nuruk–fermented extract (PRNE) exhibited the highest SOD-like activity among the tested extracts, with a value of 76.82%.
7. Nitrite scavenging activity was assessed under different pH conditions. At pH 1.2 and a concentration of 2,000 μg/mL, PPE showed the highest nitrite scavenging activity (35.32%), followed by the Aspergillus oryzae–fermented extract (PAOE), which exhibited a relatively high activity of 31.27%. Under pH 3.0 conditions, PPE also demonstrated the strongest nitrite scavenging effect, with a value of 44.87%.
8. The elastase inhibitory activity of the dried and fermented Prunus persica Flos extracts was evaluated, and at a concentration of 2,000 μg/mL, PRNE showed the most pronounced inhibitory effect, with an inhibition rate of 16.31%.
9. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity, which is associated with skin whitening effects and the prevention of food browning, was also examined. The Aspergillus kawachii–fermented extract (PAIE) exhibited the highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity at all tested concentrations and showed a strong inhibitory effect of over 40% even at 125 μg/mL.
Overall, the functional properties of dried Prunus persica Flos and Prunus persica Flos fermented with different microorganisms were found to vary depending on the fermentation strain. The dried extract exhibited the highest soluble protein and total polyphenol contents and demonstrated strong DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities as well as nitrite scavenging effects, indicating a high potential for use as a basic antioxidant material. In contrast, the rice nuruk–fermented extract (PRNE) showed superior SOD-like activity and elastase inhibitory effects, suggesting its potential as a functional ingredient for improving skin elasticity and anti-aging applications. Future studies focusing on the identification of functional compounds produced under different fermentation conditions, as well as evaluations of toxicity and the isolation and characterization of active constituents, would enable further differentiation of functional properties based on fermentation strain selection.